Culture Agenda

Learn to map Anacostia, see the Wizards in action for the first time this season, and decide for yourself who deserves the title

Monday, September 27Though the season technically begins Tuesday morning, tonight the Washington Wizards are holding their official preseason Midnight Tip-Off. Players will practice for the first time this season while fans get their first chance to see the new team, complete with number-one draft pick John Wall. The team tips off at George Mason University’s Patriot Center, and pre-practice festivities begin in President’s Park at 10 PM. Doors to the Patriot Center open at 11.

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Tuesday, September 28In the second part of its “Discovering Our Communities” lecture series, the Anacostia Community Museum is teaching attendees how to search public records such as maps and deeds to help residents undercover the neighborhood’s history. 7 PM.

Wednesday, September 29Looking for a break from Washington politics, or just thinking longingly of freshman psychology classes? Carl Jung may have devoted his life to unlocking the mysteries of the unconscious, but when it came to his own secrets, his family was more protective. His heirs blocked access to his Red Book—written during a break in his practice following a dispute with Sigmund Freud—until 2001, and it wasn’t published and made available to the general public until last year. Dr. Janice Quinn is discussing the book tonight at the Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Library. 7 PM.

Thursday, September 30In conjunction with their current exhibit of work by video artist Fiona Tan, the Freer and Sackler Galleries welcome Saskia Bos, dean of Cooper Union, tonight. Bos curated a 2009 exhibition of Tan’s work at the Venice Bienniale, and she’ll discuss both that experience and Tan’s relationship to European contemporary art. 7 PM.

Friday, October 1The annual VSA Playwright Discovery Evening’s goal is to spotlight promising work by young writers who take disability as their theme. This year, the show at the Kennedy Center features two productions—17-year-old Laura Hoikyan’s Marionette Effect and Ethan Silverman’s one-man show Jack from Above, starring Jack Hofsiss. E-mail EFKey@vsarts.org for tickets, which are free but required. 7:30.Saturday, October 2April, 1865, was a tumultuous month for this country’s reconstruction. Confederate president Jefferson Davis fled to the deep South, and President Abraham Lincoln was gunned down at Ford’s Theatre and his body taken home on a funeral train. There’s no shortage of literature on the latter event, but in his new book, Bloody Crimes, author James Swanson traces each man’s final journey and places them in context. Swanson is discussing and signing his book at the Newseum at 2:30.

Sunday, October 3The annual Metro DC Dance Showcase steps up to the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage tonight. The performance, a prelude to next week’s awards ceremony, gives nominated dancers and groups a chance to strut their stuff. With nominees for individual and group performances, emerging artist awards, and youth performances picked for their work in everything from ballet to traditional Indian dance, it promises to be an eclectic evening. 6 PM.